Thirteenth Lady's Comback: Her Everyday Life as a Bystander-Chapter 162 - 7: Visiting the Huang Family

The ceremony between the two sides lasted only a brief moment.

Afterward, Susu was escorted into a soft sedan chair. Susu noticed that aside from her, Nanny Zhou and that Aunt Han also had sedan chairs, clearly indicating that they were distinguished servants close to the master.

As for Cai Chong’s wife, she didn’t have a sedan chair, which Susu understood to some extent. One reason was Cai Chong’s wife’s youth, and the other was that she was merely the youngest companion servant to the Huang Family’s master and couldn’t be overly indulged. Hence, Cai Chong’s wife simply followed beside Susu’s sedan chair.

At this moment, she whispered to Susu, "I shouldn’t be meddling, but I’m afraid Miss might overthink. The Huang Family has ancestral rules, permitting concubines only if one reaches thirty without children; otherwise, no concubines or illegitimate children are allowed. That Aunt Han, openly a maid given to Mrs. Huang as a dowry, is secretly the master’s concubine."

There were more things, but she, as a servant, couldn’t say them. Anyway, their master wouldn’t hide anything from Miss Susu; they would certainly tell her everything.

Susu was unaware of the underlying details at the moment; she merely hadn’t expected the Huang Family to have such regulations. No wonder Grandpa Qiao was very satisfied with this marriage arrangement. Observing Huang Family’s master like this, it’s evident that there are policies from above and countermeasures from below. Probably even the Huang Family’s ancestor who established this rule didn’t know such an operation was possible.

Knowing that Aunt Han was still the master’s concubine in the Huang Family, Susu wondered what Mrs. Huang meant by having a concubine come out to greet her. Did she overthink it, or was this concubine a close confidant of Mrs. Huang, with the two masters and servants sharing a ’deep sisterly bond’?

Upon contemplating this, Susu felt a chill and quickly shook her head to dispel the images in her mind. Perhaps Mrs. Huang was simply such a first-rate ’virtuous person’!

Susu’s upbringing certainly didn’t allow her to lift the sedan curtain and glance around, but fortunately, a Cai Chong’s wife accompanied her.

"Beyond the second courtyard is the inner residence; the Grand Master and Grandma’s dwelling is on the east side of the fourth courtyard, named Yangzhi Hall, which is a smaller two-courtyard residence. However, Grandma should now be with Old Mrs. Huang. Old Mrs. Huang resides in Baishou Hall, located in the middle of the third courtyard; it’ll be reached shortly."

The Huang Family has been rooted in Tong County for over two hundred years; their ancestral residence has undergone multiple expansions and naturally isn’t small. Though it can’t compare to the opulence of a Prince Mansion, it is still lavishly decorated and well-carved.

The women carrying the sedan walked steadily and swiftly, soon entering the inner residence and stopping the sedan. Cai Chong’s wife lifted the curtain, and Susu, assisted by her, disembarked from the sedan.

Beyond the Hanging Flower Gate and through the side hall, they saw the courtyard surrounded on three sides by corridors, with a few osmanthus trees bordering the eastern wall. The trees blossomed with golden flowers before September, emitting a rich fragrance. With a clever idea from someone, the osmanthus trees were encircled by carved railings, and a few snow-white rabbits were raised within, creating an interesting scene.

Susu glanced over, and Nanny Zhou beside her chuckled, "These are raised by our family’s Old Madam, who says only Chang’e is missing. Once she sees you, she’ll surely say now even Chang’e is here."

Observing the scene, Susu felt that Old Mrs. Huang had some ’childlike innocence,’ yet she wondered about her inner character?

With matters on her mind, Susu paid little attention to her surroundings and proceeded directly to the upper room. From afar, she saw Hua Mei supporting Yang Liu, looking around. Susu disregarded anyone else, hurried a few steps forward, and upon seeing Yang Liu, whom she hadn’t seen in over a month, she was almost incredulous and nearly teared up, "Why have you become so thin?"

Yang Liu’s previously rounded apple face had now become a sharp chin, and her plump little hands turned skeletal. Susu’s first reaction was disbelief, followed by the certainty of an issue with Yang Liu’s health. Certainly, it wasn’t just due to pregnancy.

Susu was startled by her own thoughts, unsure why she had such intuition, yet the idea stuck in her mind, unable to be shaken off. "Let’s go plead with the Old Madam to have her invite an Imperial Physician for you!"

Yang Liu hadn’t expected Susu’s expression to change so many times upon seeing her for mere seconds, understanding that her current appearance had shocked her. She laughed, "Where is Miss Susu, unfazed even before Mount Tai crumbles!"

Susu supported Yang Liu, her lovely eyebrows furrowed, "I’m serious!" Yang Liu covertly patted her hand, "Several doctors have already been called, all saying it’s a normal reaction of pregnancy, just a more intense one for me."

Susu didn’t feel she was making a fuss; however, with many people around, it wasn’t suitable to discuss secrets with Yang Liu.